[CP.AR]

Hi all,

Eczema is something that runs deep in my family, my dad has a very very mild case, I had quite a severe case until I hit puberty when it just suddenly died, and become much less of a PITA.

My brother though, (12 ATM) has a very very serious condition. Anybody here know if there is a specific doctor in the Lower Mainland that specializes in Atopic Eczema? My parents have tried everything, topical creams from doctor, chinese medicine, all the likes. Our Family doctor never brought up the idea that maybe he should go see a dermatologist - if we ask/request it specifically does he HAVE to let us go see the dermatologist?

Poor little guy has the rashes all over his hands, behind his knees, behind his elbows (the fold in your arm), and to be perfectly honest I don't know how he can resist scratching it so much. He's already being bullied in elementary school because of it, and I can't imagine what it would be like for him next year when he gets into high school...

Suggestions for how we should talk to the family doctor, or anyone know of doctors who specialize in Atopic Eczema?

thanks in Advance!:)

[impactY]

Have you noticed that it may be the things he is eating? Perhaps he is mildy allergic to certain foods. Citrus has been known to trigger eczema, so try to see if it helps if he stops drinking / eating citrus foods.

[CP.AR]

Thanks for the advice, I will tell him to give it a try. My parents have been long told that Fish and Beef among other things, are the worse offenders. But he hasn't ate that stuff for about a month now, and still no change.

I will give the citrus a try though, thanks!

[Simply_Corrupt]

well normally they prescribe corticol steriods for eczema (betametasone..etc) if it gets bad. Sometime oral steriods like Prednisone will also help stop flare ups.

As for remedies that don't require prescription, colder showers help as hot showers/baths tend to dry out the skin and irritate it more. I've found Pumpkin Soap helps a bit with alleviating it too (you can get it at Rocky Mountain Soap Company on Granville and 15th, they have eczema kits that include the soap and a body bar). Moisturizing is pretty key so find a good moisturizer I find Aveeno and Lubriderm are pretty good and there are some more expensive brands like Eucerin. But i find Aveeno and Lubriderm work best and sometimes the more expenisve ones sting and are realy greasy.

impactY is right eczema can be caused by food allergies, fabric allergies, etc etc. If you can you should see if your doctor can get an allergy test done. And a dermatoligist is a good idea.

[YK86]

My wife had/has a simular problem as well. It sort of went away after hitting 20, but after coming to Canada from Japan, I guess the difference in surrounding/food retriggered it. Things that seem to help is food for sure (cut down on junk, eat at regular times), adding a shower filter, using Tide Free (no perfumes or dyes), no dryer sheets or fabric softeners of any kind, washing clothing and sheets often, applying skin cream after bath/showers, and when it's really bad, she uses some sort of skin cream to control the itchiness.

[TheSalesman11]

iv had it since I was really young and still do. I asked my doctor to do an allergy test but he said thats not the reason I have eczema. he just gave me a cream and i use it when it gets really itchy. Sometimes when it gets really itchy, I run my hands through very hot water. It makes it feel better and I put the cream on it right after although probably not a good idea. lol

[Simply_Corrupt]

Your right I thnk it depends on the kind of eczema. I think it can be like an allergy because a lot of times it only flares during certain seasons or when in contact with certain things perfumes, fabric softener, dog hair car etc.

but I'm no doctor and can only speak from experience.

[CP.AR]

Well, my brother just came back from a very lengthly visit from the doctor yesterday, and our family doctor has finally referred him to the Children's hospital. it turns out that he has a very weird case of eczema that came along with something else; his skin cannot and does not hold moisture properly. Doc did say however, to do what YK86 suggested and try to switch washing detergents with no additives, as well as wear only 100% cotten clothing. As for the topical steroid creams, conversely because of his skin condition he should stop using them (even though my doc prescribed him with it before =.=). It's a rare case he says, but hasn't been evident until now when his entire body's skin covering seems like it's about to crack.

Oh and Thesalesman11, take a shower with "cetaphil" - that stuff is pretty much designed for use by people with skin problems (it lists eczema =D)

Thanks guys!

[waddy41]

"Atopic dermatitis often occurs together with other atopic diseases like hay fever, asthma and conjunctivitis."

Isn't this related to a messed up auto-immunity system? Your body thinks it's allergic to something and is attacking whatever it is...

[CP.AR]

^ Yup, that's also something that triggers eczema. Basically your body is over-reacting to everything. Because of this, my brother and myself (in the past when it was a huge problem for me) tend to stay away from short sleeved clothing, reason being that something as minor as a breeze can trigger a flare-up session.

[XtC_13aBy]

He should definitely be referred to a dermatologist. I have been experiencing mild eczema since i was a child (now i am 23) and starting this past winter, it has turned very severe to the point that my skin got extremely dry/flakey, itchy, had bumpy rashes and caused my skin to break down causing the inner layers to be exposed (very painful) and bruise-like itchy patches on the chest areas and neck. Unless you are referred to a dermatologist, a family doctor can only do so much (suggest use of Cetaphil moisturizing cream, 0.5% hydrocortisone.. etc which may be too weak).. a dermatologist can provide more potent steroid-creams or pills that may work. The most potent drug i was using was Prednisone, and it worked very well when my eczema was exacerbated by another steroid cream called Desonide. But keep in mind that these meds only mask the symptoms and not cure them. Natural, herbal products may work on some people but not others. I agree that Aveeno moisturizers are good, I recently started using their products (they also have lotion specially for eczema type skin). Try to avoid being in extreme temperatures such as very cold weathers (eg. snow) and hot temps as they can exacerbate the symptoms.

[TheSalesman11]

Oh and Thesalesman11, take a shower with "cetaphil" - that stuff is pretty much designed for use by people with skin problems (it lists eczema =D)

Thanks guys!

Is this a shower gel or something? Can you get it anywhere? superstore? I'll look into it although my case doesn't seem as harsh as some of you. I only have some on my hand. But it is getting better.

[Gumby]

Is this a shower gel or something? Can you get it anywhere? superstore? I'll look into it although my case doesn't seem as harsh as some of you. I only have some on my hand. But it is getting better.
Cetaphil can be found anywhere, including Superstore. Look in the facial cleansers section. It's not cheap though... (and it kinda looks like jizz!)

[British Quid]

About $15 give or take for a 500mL pump bottle

[XtC_13aBy]

yup, and for the moisturizer it's $15 for a mere 120mL.

[TheSalesman11]

Cetaphil can be found anywhere, including Superstore. Look in the facial cleansers section. It's not cheap though... (and it kinda looks like jizz!)

hmmm, i guess ill just give it a shot. I dont have eczema on my body, just my hands. Im using glysomed for hand cream which works quite well. But who knows, anything that can get rid of eczema would be worth a shot.

[CP.AR]

Cetaphil can be found anywhere, including Superstore. Look in the facial cleansers section. It's not cheap though... (and it kinda looks like jizz!)

Totally agree on the jizz part :haha:

If you only have it on your hands, just use it to wash your hands (it's very mild, just enough to lift dirt and dust on your skin I guess). Get it from costco, it's much cheaper there (and if you gotta use it, you use it in large quantities :D)

[Gumby]

hmmm, i guess ill just give it a shot. I dont have eczema on my body, just my hands. Im using glysomed for hand cream which works quite well. But who knows, anything that can get rid of eczema would be worth a shot.
I don't think cetaphil will get rid of eczema - it just won't make it worse. It's just a very mild cleanser, while other soaps are often very harsh on your skin.

[fa1civic]

why not give eucerin or vasaline creamy a try.. for my eczema my family doc recommended me to see Dr. Julie Prendiville at Vancouver Children's Hospital. Although my eczema slowly was gone by the age of 16. Hope that answers your question Capital Picard!

[CP.AR]

^ My bro got referred to the Children's Hospital too, hope she's the doc he'll be seeing!

[Gumby]

Yeah Dr. Prendiville is the only pediatric dermatologist in the area, I believe. My 19 month old son goes to see her too.

[JulyZerg]

I had a pretty bad case of Eczema when I was younger, it was in everywhere basically, on my fingers, on my neck and near the folds in the arms/legs and a bit on the bottom of my thigh's. The finger parts was the worse, along with the neck-part since everyone can basically see it and it seemed like the fingers was going to detach itself lol and It was itchy as fuck. I was using every type of cream western and chinese stuff, none of them seem to work...but as I aged the eczema started to disappear and I guess I had more self control since I was older and would just rub it slowly run my finger tips by it to ease the itchy-ness and it slowly turned into not scratching.

It got A LOT better in Grade 7-8 and it was practically non-existence but in the summer or when I play sports, the arm-folds and the folds by the knees sometimes gets itchy and I do scratch but I just put on some Chinese cream on it and it's fine in a day or two. My finger's got better and in high school it didn't even seem like my fingers had eczema before or anything, a lot of girls held my hand and have told me how nice my fingers/hands were and they were really nice/soft etc :haha:

My sibling(15yo) has eczema for awhile now, pretty much from birth like myself and it's not exactly getting any better but I guess if mine disappeared when I got older then it'd be the same for him.

[Volvoman]

He may be allergic to dust mites. Also, use Vasoline in the bad areas. No scratching and no rubbing of the eyes. Keep the hands clean all the time and use hand sanitizer.

[Truenosan]

Do they even prescribe Prednisone to younger kids? When I had my first flare up, I was around 14, and they never gave me Prednisone.

I don't think they prescribe this in Canada, but when I had a flare up while in California, I saw a dermatologist down there, and he gave me 2 shots of Kennelog. That stuff worked wonders, the patches all dried up and flaked off within days.

I asked my doctor about it and it appears they don't use it that way here.

[carisear]

ahhhh reading this thread is like going back in time. my GP prescribed all that shit to me over the years, and none of it worked. I used novo prednisone which was AWESOME, but i'm sure my balls shrunk because of it. heh.

FINALLY, i got a refferral to BC Skin centre. BEST THING EVER. TRY TO GET ONE IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. I don't use anymore steroids/steroid creams. I had it really bad -- I was put on UV light treatment. SO GOOD. Also for the creams i use -- for my face i use protopic and for my body, i was prescribed a heavy moisturizer. Oh and scalp lotion i use ectosone.

but anyways, TRY TO GET A REFFERFAL to bc skin centre. i'm surprised non-specialists don't know about those medicines/techniques.

[CP.AR]

He may be allergic to dust mites. Also, use Vasoline in the bad areas. No scratching and no rubbing of the eyes. Keep the hands clean all the time and use hand sanitizer.

nooo. Hand sanitizer is a BAD idea. doc says stay well away from hand sanitizers, and even soap. Use only Cetaphil to clean and Aveeno only to moisturize.

Hand and mouth though, absolute no touchy

[What_the?]

cetaphil also comes in a bar soap, try to find that if you're thinking of using it in showers.

dr. prendiville isn't the only pediatric dermatologist in Vancouver

hand sanitizers contain alcohol which further dry out skin, so yes, don't use that.

prednisone can and is prescribed for kids... if they're very young, sometimes dexamethasone is used too.

cetaphil lotion is great to use if you've got sensitive skin. Also a new one that's out that will help with hydration of the skin, spectro eczema care moisturizing lotion. Available at your local pharmacy.

[trancehead]

I had a pretty bad case of Eczema when I was younger, it was in everywhere basically, on my fingers, on my neck and near the folds in the arms/legs and a bit on the bottom of my thigh's. The finger parts was the worse, along with the neck-part since everyone can basically see it and it seemed like the fingers was going to detach itself lol and It was itchy as fuck. I was using every type of cream western and chinese stuff, none of them seem to work...but as I aged the eczema started to disappear and I guess I had more self control since I was older and would just rub it slowly run my finger tips by it to ease the itchy-ness and it slowly turned into not scratching.

It got A LOT better in Grade 7-8 and it was practically non-existence but in the summer or when I play sports, the arm-folds and the folds by the knees sometimes gets itchy and I do scratch but I just put on some Chinese cream on it and it's fine in a day or two. My finger's got better and in high school it didn't even seem like my fingers had eczema before or anything, a lot of girls held my hand and have told me how nice my fingers/hands were and they were really nice/soft etc :haha:

My sibling(15yo) has eczema for awhile now, pretty much from birth like myself and it's not exactly getting any better but I guess if mine disappeared when I got older then it'd be the same for him.

Basically the same story for me. Eczema was really bad when i was younger but slowly went away with time

+1 for Aveeno...just started using it maybe a year ago and i love it
I also use spectro gel as soap when i shower.

Beta derm for any signs of flaring up

[rageguy]

try skinmatters.ca, dr. charles cheng is very good as well.

[wasabisashimi]

Eczema: allergic reaction similar to auto-immune where skin is in chronic inflammation.

Conventional treatment: steroid cream, prednisone... etc.

Are the medicines treating any cause? NO, its masking your symptoms with anti-inflammatory and steroid cream.
What is the long term effect? Your skin gets thinner and thinner cuz you never even treat the cause. Steroid thins your skin til a point where slight irritation will make it crack and bleed.

What is the cause? 20% genetic, 80% food allergy related.
how you can treat this? Get a blood allergy test, and start eliminating the allergenic foods that are bothering you.

Top allergens: dairy (milk cheese, etc), Soy, Citrus, Eggs, Wheat,


Being able to realize if your dermatologist is really treating your cause or are they really just a bunch of rich kids trying to manage symptoms can be crucial to your healing.

Believe me, I had eczema, I have been through this shit before, and i have lost faith in all of the drugs.
In conclusion (what cured me) : find your allergy (blood test, not skin prick test) , start elimination.
Our medical system is run by politician and pharmaceutical company, therefore our doctors are sometimes blinded by whoever sponsors them. The only thing i will trust my doctor will be surgery and emergency ER situation where our medicine is the best at saving lives.

You can think i am overreacting, but i just want you know i was in the same boat as you and it will never change unless you find your allergy.

[JulyZerg]

Forgot to add, I'm allergic to seafood and any types of shell-fish for that matter, except for fish. Every time I eat lobster, crab or the likes I get pretty itchy and I've grown not to really like those types of food as it doesn't really appeal to me. However I can still eat it and I'll just become itchy afterwards but now since I'm older I have enough self control to try to fight it unlike when I was young where I would just scratch scratch scratch. But even still, I prefer not to eat it cause the taste doesn't justify scratching at night etc lol

[Gumby]

Forgot to add, I'm allergic to seafood and any types of shell-fish for that matter, except for fish. Every time I eat lobster, crab or the likes I get pretty itchy and I've grown not to really like those types of food as it doesn't really appeal to me. However I can still eat it and I'll just become itchy afterwards but now since I'm older I have enough self control to try to fight it unlike when I was young where I would just scratch scratch scratch. But even still, I prefer not to eat it cause the taste doesn't justify scratching at night etc lol
Heh my sister in law's the opposite. She loves crab and adopts the "eat first, scratch later" mentality.

[CP.AR]

Eczema: allergic reaction similar to auto-immune where skin is in chronic inflammation.

Conventional treatment: steroid cream, prednisone... etc.

Are the medicines treating any cause? NO, its masking your symptoms with anti-inflammatory and steroid cream.
What is the long term effect? Your skin gets thinner and thinner cuz you never even treat the cause. Steroid thins your skin til a point where slight irritation will make it crack and bleed.

What is the cause? 20% genetic, 80% food allergy related.
how you can treat this? Get a blood allergy test, and start eliminating the allergenic foods that are bothering you.

Top allergens: dairy (milk cheese, etc), Soy, Citrus, Eggs, Wheat,


Being able to realize if your dermatologist is really treating your cause or are they really just a bunch of rich kids trying to manage symptoms can be crucial to your healing.

Believe me, I had eczema, I have been through this shit before, and i have lost faith in all of the drugs.
In conclusion (what cured me) : find your allergy (blood test, not skin prick test) , start elimination.
Our medical system is run by politician and pharmaceutical company, therefore our doctors are sometimes blinded by whoever sponsors them. The only thing i will trust my doctor will be surgery and emergency ER situation where our medicine is the best at saving lives.

You can think i am overreacting, but i just want you know i was in the same boat as you and it will never change unless you find your allergy.

That's what my parents though at first too - must be food allergies, or some allergy to the surroundings. Did a test, none came up positive. It was not until that last doctor visit that the doc actually did some analysis and came to the conclusion that my brother's skin dosen't know how to absorb moisture... ie: water just rolls off like it's a sheet of plastic, and cream just stays on the surface until it has either evaporated or washed off.

[waddy41]

that`s really interesting...how did the doctor figure that out..?

[wasabisashimi]

That's what my parents though at first too - must be food allergies, or some allergy to the surroundings. Did a test, none came up positive. It was not until that last doctor visit that the doc actually did some analysis and came to the conclusion that my brother's skin dosen't know how to absorb moisture... ie: water just rolls off like it's a sheet of plastic, and cream just stays on the surface until it has either evaporated or washed off.


This is an example of 20% genetic defect that i was referring to, at least you ruled out food allergy which is like majority of the case.

[CP.AR]

that`s really interesting...how did the doctor figure that out..?

I wasn't there personally, all I posted here was simply a transcript of what my mom told me (She went with my bro to the doctor). My guess is that the doc looked at his medical records, and figured out that all the atopic creams he has prescribed dosen't work, and kind of figure it out by the process of elimination - either way, since my bro is now cleared to go make a visit to the specialized dermatologist, we are all happy :haha:

[DGiRL]

I had that hardcore in summer 2007 as a result of antibiotics I took in summer 2006. For not absorbing moisture, have him try Glaxal Base cream. It comes in a big white tub, label in greenish/blue and white, you can buy it at Superstore. After he takes a shower, very very lightly pat down with a towel then apply the cream (the more water there is, the better)..the water drying helps the skin absorb it more. Then he should just let it all air dry, it's quite a process, but it can be worth it.

My dad also told me to put cream on and saran wrap the worst areas to keep the place moisturized..then go to sleep... it did wonders for my skin.. my eczema was usually the insides of my elbows and backs of knees. Calendula cream and Aloe vera CREAM (from the states) are good basic moisturizers throughout the day. In times of dire need, I've also gotten simple Zinc Oxide baby creams (usually used to treating diaper rash) and that's worked. It also sounds like he's built up somewhat of a tolerance for his creams/medications so maybe switching up the creams every 2 weeks can help. Sometimes I just had to put off using my cortisone cream cuz I noticed the more I used it the less it seemed to work, so I started switching it up and not putting on the same medicated cream everyday.
There might be days where he has to deal with the itchiness but you can get PEPPERMINT BODY LOTION for that from places like Planet Organic (Coq) or Nester's Market (Vancouver) and that's just infused with peppermint oil and it will help TREMENDOUSLY with itchy, reddened skin! It makes you feel all cold/tingly :)

Maybe you guys should try a naturopathic doctor? My ex and his bro were really allergic and they just took a different type of test where they just waved something over your finger and did a reading analysis or something.. (not the pricking test that I had to take) and it turns out they were allergic to all sorts of things, like white rice, wheat, dairy, etc.

Also remember, people's bodies change every 7 years. So possibly, the things he was allergic to back in the day isn't what he's (becoming) allergic to today.
I was allergic to seafood when I was a baby. When I was 15, I found out I'm not allergic to seafood anymore but now I'm allergic to cats. Which would have been a good thing to know since I was suffering for 3 years unknowingly cuz I acquired a cat between that time period. And now, I'm not as allergic to my cat...I'm allergic to chicken. My mom also can't use fabric softener in the wash, since my skin is so sensitive..so having that stuff touch my blankets/tshirts etc. will drive me nuts.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Fish oil), Acidophilus, Evening Primose Oil taken orally (can be bought at various health food stores) can also help. Not immediately, for remedies taken orally, it should take a while since it needs to build up in your system first, so if he does that, don't expect a clear result until a month or so later.

Anyway, hope some of that stuff helped. I hope little man gets better soon :)

[CP.AR]

thanks for the post Dgirl...

My bro made a visit to the specialist at Children's Hospital on Friday (with my parents of course), doctor suggests that he takes a bath in the tub with 1/4 cup of household bleach every 2nd day. She also prescribed him with 500mg of antibiotics to take 4 times a day, for 2 weeks.

[vl_86]

I've been reading around that different seasons effect people differently, so what time of the year is it usually bad for you guys?

I've noticed that the beginning of summer absolutely destroys me, with all the pollen in the air mixed with the heat causing me to sweat just makes my skin a mess! Anything that causes me to sweat just completely irritates my skin and causes flare ups

Usually for me, I take a warm shower and right after I get out I moisturize! Also I've changed my bed sheets and pillow to an allergy proof kind which seem to be helping quite a bit especially in the morning! It might not be as comfortable as the other kind of sheets but at least i don't wake up itching!! Also as mentioned above you should switch your detergent and fabric softener to the fragrance free kind and I use the dove fragrance free dove soap!

So i was wondering if any of you guys have any tips for eczema on the face? Cause there's where i mostly have my problems ..

[c32]

sorry to high jack your thread but i dont wanna waste space and make a new post about eczema..

i have a slight bit of eczema on my knuckles and only that spot. it is not red any more like the pics on google but has dried up and is brownish like scab color but not realy a scab there but feels rough a bit, you can barely see it on my knuckles but it is there.... what the hell should i do? this is the second time it showed up, maybe third i cannot remember.. help!!! does eczema turn brownish afterwards? fml.

[CP.AR]

sorry to high jack your thread but i dont wanna waste space and make a new post about eczema..

i have a slight bit of eczema on my knuckles and only that spot. it is not red any more like the pics on google but has dried up and is brownish like scab color but not realy a scab there but feels rough a bit, you can barely see it on my knuckles but it is there.... what the hell should i do? this is the second time it showed up, maybe third i cannot remember.. help!!! does eczema turn brownish afterwards? fml.

I think your skin was just extremely dry and cracked from the cold. Some moisturizer should fix it right up. Theres no need to fml here, having your knuckles is much better than having it all over your body

[cecilia]

get glaxal base moisturizing cream recommend by my doctor esp. for eczema. i got mine at safeway for 22 bucks in a 450g tub or u can hit up 835 w.10th building behind vancouver general hospital and go up the 3rd floor to see a skin specialist on that

[c32]

get glaxal base moisturizing cream recommend by my doctor esp. for eczema. i got mine at safeway for 22 bucks in a 450g tub or u can hit up 835 w.10th building behind vancouver general hospital and go up the 3rd floor to see a skin specialist on that

so is this perscripted?.. does anyone know if eczema goes away cause mine sure isnt.... im using that HC 1% stuff and nothing.... i am also getting this on my face i think, theres this spot near my eye aout .75 inch diameter, its mostly red most of the time, hopefuly it wont turn dark like the stuff on my hand... it first started on my face after i took a sleepy alergie pill and then got a fever right after with red marks all over my face, went to docter and she persribed me some HC creme 1% which i picked up a long while ago for my hand.. most of the spots went away from face except 1 side of my face... a little bit of my face is scared i think. fml. my beautiful face/left hand :(

[Truenosan]

If you want to see a Dermatologist, you need to get a referral from your family doctor.

[joonkol]

I had eczema before.

I was tired of using creams and listening to my doctor saying I had to live with it. Then I learned about "leaky gut theory" and I ate cleaner and stopped eating citrus and milk for a month.

That stopped it.

So I recommend that.

[SkinnyPupp]

Cut carbs from the diet, almost completely. I bet it goes away then ;)

[Alphamale]

Cut carbs from the diet, almost completely. I bet it goes away then ;)

This is one thing I can agree with SP on.

Give it a try, may or may not work for you but most likely will.

[Qmx323]

Yep, I cut out on the refined sugar and it has been fucking off,

and been losing weight too

LOL